Town to vote on 4th phase of Four Corners
BROOKFIELD— The town plans to present the design for the $3.6 million fourth phase of its downtown revitalization project for approval at this week’s special town meeting.
Brookfield has completed two of five phases of the Four Corners streetscape project, and will start construction on its third phase this summer.
The revitalization effort includes constructing new sidewalks, housing and shopping developments, lampposts, greenery, and a multi-use trail to reinvigorate the four-way intersection at Federal Road.
Now, at 7 p.m Tuesday in the
Brookfield High School auditorium, residents will be able to mask up, head to the high school and cast their vote.
Of the five phases, this one is expected to be the longest and most costly, with plans to construct over 1,900 feet of sidewalk that would connect the northern end of phase one to the Newbury Village condominiums on Federal Road, said Greg Dembowski, community development specialist. This would provide direct pedestrian access to the downtown area.
“It is by far the largest and most complicated of all the phases,” Dembowski said.
Not only will the longest stretch of sidewalk be installed in this phase, but the sidewalks will need to be constructed through considerable ledges and gulleys, he said.
Of the $3.6 million, the town would cover up to $450,000, or about 15 percent. First Selectman Steve Dunn said this cost will likely be covered using 20-year bonds, and that roughly 80 percent of phase four’s cost will be covered by a state grant.
The total cost of the five phases hits around $11 million, with $3 million estimated to be covered by the town. However, half of that $3 million was already covered in the first phase of the project.
Since the proposal includes expenditures over $1 million, the town is required to put it to a vote.
Unlike most meetings these days, this one will not be held virtually because of the difficulties of verifying voter identities and residencies, Dunn said.
Instead, officials have moved the meeting to the high school auditorium to safely meet social distancing guidelines and provide enough space for anyone who wants to attend. Normally, about 20 to 40 people come to these meetings and vote, Dunn said. He expects similar numbers for this vote, as well.
“In the prior phases we’ve done, the town has overwhelmingly approved these projects for the streetscape,” Dunn said.
In the years since construction began, Brookfield residents like State Rep. Stephen Harding have noticed the difference the streetscape makes.
“Prior to COVID, when you’d go by the walkway on a nice spring day it would be just packed, which was great to see,” Harding said.
“It’s a beautiful place to walk and run.”
Harding said it will be especially attractive for people visiting from out of town and young professionals who like to get active outside. With COVID drawing city-dwellers to suburbs, the new developments and streetscapes could be an added bonus for Brookfield.
“it’s something that is very attractive to individuals that are new to the community,” he said.
A private development in the town center, Brookfield Village, is also moving forward.
Now on the second phase of its three-phase plan, the developers ultimately aim to construct six new buildings in the downtown area for commercial and residential use. Construction for two buildings is expected to wrap up in August, developer Alan Rothman said.
Two businesses— an upscale café and an upscale Asian restaurant— have already pre-leased spaces, said George Walker, a marketing representative for Advantage Commercial Realty. On Thursday, an Italian restaurant, LaPiazza, opened its doors.
“This is all tying in with the positive things that are happening in the Town Center District, and the streetscape just adds to that positive attitude,” Walker said.
Dembowski hopes to begin the streetscape’s fourth phase in the summer of 2022, but due to COVID delays in approval procedures, it’s more likely to start in the spring of 2023.
“We’re going to do everything we can to get this project in as soon as possible,” he said.